(Headline USA) The first big live awards show to air during the current screenwriters’ strike has retreated to a pre-taped event as the MTV Movie & TV Awards tries to chart a celebratory course through a turbulent Hollywood.
The Sunday show already had lost its host, Drew Barrymore, who dropped out in solidarity with the writers and the show’s red carpet was rolled up.
The Writers Guild still promised to picket, meaning stars and presenters would have to walk past demonstrating writers to get into the venue.
Late Saturday, MTV scrapped the live event entirely.
“We’re pivoting away from a live event that still enables us to produce a memorable night full of exclusive sneak peaks, irreverent categories our audience has come to expect, and countless moments that will both surprise and delight,” said Bruce Gillmer, an MTV executive producer, in a statement.
The strike has also crippled late night television shows, which rely heavily on writers.
The taped show still intends to have: a best movie category and a best TV show.
In individual categories, best performance in a movie and best performance in a TV show are planned to receive awards.
Other categories for the golden popcorn statuette include best hero, best villain, best comedic performance, best kiss, breakthrough performance, best fight, most frightened performance, best duo, best movie song, best competition series and best host.
Adapted from reporting by the Associated Press
